JCG to get its own Santander-inspired Work Café

Saturday 27 January 2024

A local secondary school is set to get a Santander-sponsored Work Café with space for the growing student population to socialise, work, eat, and take part in activities.

Work is underway on the new café at Jersey College for Girls, with students actively involved in the development process.

They came up with ideas for a relaxed space where they can buy cold food and coffee – similar to Santander's co-working space at Charing Cross.

JCG's principal, Carl Howarth, explained: “We were impressed by the concept of the Santander Work Café in town and wanted to recreate a similar facility in the College that has a different identity to the canteen, or indeed to the rest of the College."

Sixth-former and aspiring architect Lily shadowed the designers and architects as they developed the project. 

The 17-year-old said: “I’m hoping to study Interior Architecture at university, so it has been brilliant seeing how the Santander team make design choices and all the factors that need to come together to make a project like this happen. 

"I’ll only get to use the space for a short time, but I think it will be very popular with 6th formers and for relaxing after exams.”

The new space will accommodate increasing student and staff numbers – with the school's bursar Julie Forsyth explaining: “With over 765 students and over 100 staff we have outgrown our current dining facilities.” 

She added that the space's decor would keep it in line with "the trendiest cafés in town".

Pictured: The school was inspired by the Santander Work Café in town.

A group of ten students from years 8 to 13 were invited to give their input into what they wanted from the space.

The students were given learning opportunities around project planning, design, communications, marketing and events as the space was being developed.

Isla, age 13, explained: “We wanted the café to have a different feel to the canteen and be a nice place we can use any time of day, not just at lunchtime. 

"It will have clearly defined zones: a breakfast bar with lots of charging points for working, a social area in the middle, and booths at the side for small groups.”

Kasia, age 13, added: “The space should make people feel happy and calm, with a layout that works for us. The new café will be decorated with nature in mind including wood and granite surfaces.”

Santander has also promised financial education sessions teaching students about budgeting, saving and investing.

James Pountney, CEO, Santander International, said: “Following the results of a student survey about catering at JCG, the College approached us to learn more about the Work Café and the relationship grew from there.

"Since the Santander Work Café opened in Jersey early 2021, it has become a popular destination for meetings, co-working, events, or just grabbing a good coffee and a bite to eat.

"While the JCG café will not include banking facilities, it will draw on the ethos of the Work Café, becoming a café within a school, a vibrant new space serving the College community.”

Pictured top: JCG Principal Carl Howarth and Santander CEO James Pountney with JCG students in the room which will become the new work café.